Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to prevent the unauthorised release of beavers into the wild, and what plans they have to introduce a national strategy for the authorisation of releases.

This is a devolved matter and the information provided therefore relates to England only.

Defra will continue to work with Natural England to develop our approach to beaver reintroductions and management in England. This work includes consideration of how to prevent further unauthorised release of beavers into the wild.

Apart from the River Otter population, all other wild living beavers in England are the result of unlawful releases, escapes from enclosures or their descendants. It is an offence to release a beaver in England without a licence from Natural England. Licences are available for the release of beavers into enclosures. Licenced projects are responsible for managing animals they have released and are also expected to follow the Code for Reintroductions and other Conservation Translocations in England.